November 14 2007

Multi-million Landmarks funding puts Heartlands on the map

Big celebrations are getting underway in Pool with the news that Cornwall's Heartlands project has won through and been awarded over £22 million by the Big Lottery Fund's Living Landmark's programme to transform the area into a world heritage site.

The multi-million pound scheme, led by Kerrier District Council, has been given the multi-million pound backing by the Big Lottery Fund to transform 7.5 hectares of former mining land in Pool, between Redruth and Camborne, into a World Heritage Site and parkland.

Mark Cotton, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the South West, said: "The Fund is delighted to announce the success of Cornwall's Heartlands. This follows a lot of hard work by the project - and some extremely tough decisions by the Fund's Living Landmarks committee. I am looking forward to seeing this truly ground-breaking project come to life and capturing the imagination of the people of Cornwall and individuals across the country. This award will create a truly great place to live, work and play."

Heartlands is a community-led vision to transform Cornwall's most derelict urban area into a truly inspirational cultural landscape. The site will include formal gardens, exciting play-space, performance space for events for over 4,000 people and new cycle links to local trails.  Heartlands will include stunning new public art with a range of water features, sculpture and contemporary architecture directly complementing the Grade 2* Listed Robinson's Shaft mine complex.

There will be new education and health facilities for local people and the scheme has been designed to be a positive part of everyday life.  Heartlands will act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the Camborne-Pool-Redruth area. 

Kerrier District Council Portfolio Holder for Economy and Regeneration, Councillor Mrs Carolyn Rule, said: "We are absolutely delighted that Heartlands has been awarded the Living Landmarks grant, it is testimony to the passion for the project locally and a real belief in ensuring the future prosperity of the area.  Heartlands will provide such a range of services in a beautiful new landscape, and the World Heritage Site setting will greatly enhance local pride - we are sure that this will now be the catalyst for future growth and prosperity for the Camborne-Pool-Redruth area."

Local Kerrier District Councillor for Pool, Councillor Malcolm Moyle, added: "We are absolutely thrilled that the Big Lottery Fund has supported the people of Pool through their grant to Heartlands.  This will be the big scheme that the area has vitally needed and will ensure that we will have an environment and range of facilities that will make Pool a better place to live for generations to come.  Hopefully the direct impact of this funding, and the role of Heartlands in the future will spread the benefit of the funding across the wider region.  We can't wait to see it happen."

Scott James, Heartlands Project Manager, Kerrier District Council said: "The Big Lottery Fund has given a real vote of confidence to the people of this area, and in supporting Heartlands with over £22million of funding will make such a significant difference to achieving genuine, lasting improvement.  The local community should take real pride in being the only project in England to be offered funding, and only one of three in the UK.  Like everybody else in the area, I am very much looking forward to seeing major improvements take place, and enjoying this amazing scheme for years to come."

David Warburton, South West Director for English Partnerships said: "This is wonderful news for Pool and Cornwall as a whole.  English Partnerships have worked in support of the urban regeneration strategy to enable Pool to fulfil its great potential. The Living Landmarks funding will help the people of Pool to create Heartlands as a unique showcase for Cornish history and culture and which will stimulate growth and regeneration across the Camborne Pool Redruth area."

Nigel Tipple, Chief Executive of CPR Regeneration said: "This is absolutely terrific news and full credit to the Kerrier team and my development colleagues along with everyone involved for such a tremendous achievement.Heartlands is a centrepiece of the comprehensive regeneration of Pool and securing this investment is a huge step forward for the whole CPR area."

Stephen Bohane, Head of Operations for the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "Heartlands is one of the biggest and most significant pieces in the regeneration jigsaw in Pool and this announcement is great news. It will be a huge confidence boost and sends the clear message that Pool is on the cusp of major transformation."

Heartlands is one of  three successful projects that are sharing awards totalling just over £70 million from the Living Landmarks programme.

The aim of the Living Landmarks programme is to provide funding of up to £25 million to create major new capital projects that transform, revitalise and regenerate their communities. In August 2006, 23 projects made it onto the final Living Landmarks shortlist and were each awarded up to £250,000 to develop their proposals, leaving them much better placed to take their schemes further.

Projects that applied were given extensive scrutiny by the Living Landmarks Committee, which included experts in the areas of architecture and regeneration, and have substantial professional experience of large-scale capital projects.

In this extremely competitive funding programme the three successful projects were selected from a total of 313 initial applicants.